Cigarette-paper holder.



No. 788,703. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. M. P. OASTERLINE.

CIGARETTE PAPER HOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 29. 1904.

016 figgggg Mtnesses NITED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.,

MINNIE P. CASTERLINE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CASTERLINE-LAZARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A FIRM.

CIGARETTE-PAPER HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,703, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed March 29, 190A. Serial No. 200,556.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MINNIE I. CAsTnRLINn,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the,

city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Paper Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in paper-holders, and particularly in containers for cigarette-papers. Its object is to provide a simple, unique, and serviceable holder or box which may be carried in the vest-pocket and from which successive papers may be re moved singly and easily without disturbing the remaining papers in the box.

It consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my paperholder. Fig. 2 is a central section of same. Fig. 3 shows pattern of paper-box.

In its simplest form my invention comprises a small rectangular box A, having a cover 2 transversely slotted adjacent to one end, as at 3, and a spring-follower 4.-. The box and cover may be of any suitable material. The parts may be made separately and of metal, as shown in Fig. 2, or integral and of paper, wood veneer, or like flexible substance, as in Fig. 3. The size of the box is suliicient to accommodate a stack of cigarette-papers, as shown at 5. With the cover closed down tight the follower 4 acts to press the topmost sheet always against the cover and into slot 3. The slot extends clear across the cover eoincident in length with the width of the paper, and the lower side of the slot is straight, so as to give a straight edge 3 for the paper to fold over and not wrinkle when being withdrawn. The slot intermediate of its ends is enlarged and elongated in the direction of the length of the cover to allow the tip of the tinger to contact with a suflicicnt area and length of paper, so that as the dampened linger is drawn toward the opposite end of the cover the paper will adhere to the linger and that end of the paper will become freed from the confines of the cover, whereupon the sheet can easily be extracted. Enough of the cover 5 remains around the enlarged part of the slot to protect the corners and ends of the papers, and so keep them always smooth and straight. The slot at its ends need only be wide enough to allow the paper to fold outwardly and let the engaged end of the paper be withdrawn.

Any suitable and convenient form of follower may be used to press the paper always cover-ward. Preferably I employ a strip of light spring metal about the width of the box, laid loose therein and having a convexed part 4 adjacent to one end and relative to slot 3. When a stack of papers is first inserted, this spring Willl'latten out against the bottom of the box, taking up practically no room; but 5 as the stack becomes reduced the spring expands and will bring even the last paper in the box so as to permit its ready removal.

The invention is capable of embodiment in a variety of forms and may be made of metal 7 and embellished as an article of permanence, or where made of paper it would serve as a simple novelty and convenience to be thrown away when a bunch of papers has been used up. In the latter instance of a box of paper I may employ any sort of a suitable foldable blank. In Fig. 3 I have shown a blank A creased to form the respective top, bottom, sides, and ends of the box and having a slot 3 adjacent to one end of that portion of the 30 blank which is ultimately to form the top of the finished package. The package is closed by folding the blank so as to bring the lateral strips a Z) c, which are integral with the bot tom section, on the outside and pasting these 5 strips up against the side and end sections of the box. The cigarette-papers are removed singly, as before, by moistening the finger and pressing down on the sheets with a slight drawing action toward the center of the box. 9

Inasmuch as the cigarette-sheets are very thin and pliant, it is not desired that the greatest pressure should be brought on the stack immediately in the line of the slot-opening, as that would cause the papers to bulge out and render them liable to be caught and pulled out accidentally or for two or three sheets to be withdrawn when only one is wanted. It will be noted that the spring acts to exert its greatest pressure on the cover immediately rearward of the slot-opening and against the straight edge 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. A cigarette-paper holder consisting of a box a cover therefor having a slot extending transversely across it adjacent to one end, said slot having a length about equal to the width of the box between inside walls, and the width of the contained sheets, and having a lower straight edge and being enlarged and elongated along the opposite edge in the direction of the length of the cover, and a springpressedfollower in the box cooperating with the cover adjacent to the straight edge of the slot to hold the paper in opposition to a movement of the paper longitudinally of the cover and in the direction of said straight edge.

2. A cigarette-paper holder consisting of a closed box having a slot adjacent to one end extending crosswise of the box and of a length coincident with the width of the contained papers and the width of the box between inside walls, said slotbeing enlarged to one side intermediate of its ends and in the direction I of the length of the box to permit of the engagement of the topmost sheet at a point between the ends thereof and the movement of the sheet toward the opposite side of the slot, and means within the box operating in opposition to said movement of the sheet to cause the latter to bulge outward through said slot to allow the removal ofthe sheet.

3. A cigarette-paper holder comprising a box closed except for a slot adjacent to one end said slot extending the width of the contained papers and positioned relative to the intermediate position of the papers and having a long straight edge and being enlarged along the opposite edge intermediate the ends of the slot, a spring-pressed follower in the box operating out of line with the slot, said slot and spring admitting of a simultaneous longitudinal movement and a transverse outward buckling movement of the middle portion of a sheet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MINNIE P. GASTERLINE. WVitnesses:

JULIUS OALMANN, THos. J. GHIoHIzoLA. 

